St. Lucie Firm Closes, Puts 40 Out Of Work

FORT PIERCE — Operations at LanShe Aerospace, a manufacturer of single-engine seaplanes at St. Lucie County International Airport, have ground to a halt, putting as many as 40 people out of work.

The abrupt closure of the 40,000-square-foot facility came June 3, and employees said they are still owed money.

George Berry, 62, who was hired as an assembly worker in March 2003, said LanShe owes him more than $2,000. Berry said company owner Wadi Rahim talked to the workers before closing down.

"He said, `I ran out of money,'" Berry said. "He said he would try to pay us if he got money."

St. Lucie County Economic Development Director Don Root said he was disappointed by the turn of events but hoped the aircraft manufacturing operation would be salvaged.

"We're trying to work with [Rahim]," Root said. "I don't know his condition. Clearly he was unable to meet payroll."

Rahim bought Lake Aircraft of Maine in September 2002 and then acquired the assets of Micco Aircraft Inc. in Fort Pierce from the Seminole Tribe in March 2003.

On the promise of bringing the Maine operations to Fort Pierce and adding 70 jobs over five years, the St. Lucie County Commission approved an incentive package worth $196,000 and welcomed Rahim with fanfare.

Root, who has had talks with Rahim and other investors in an attempt to keep the plant in Fort Pierce, said a pending lawsuit might have scared away Rahim's financial backers.

Aero-News.net, an aviation news Web site, reported that Rahim and LanShe were sued in March by the former owner of Lake Aircraft, Armand Rivard, who is seeking to foreclose on the Lake assets.